The Records of the Bird Records Committee 2017-2018 by Nick Mrvelj

Editor’s Note: This year, the OBRC is breaking away from the tradition of having the Secretary write this annual summary, and beginning a rotation of Committee members as the author. Committee member Nick Mrvelj is the first to take the plunge.

2018 OBRC Members (with term expiration dates) The Oregon Bird Records Committee reviews and votes on a batch of records Tom Crabtree – 2018 Craig Miller – 2019 every 60 days. Tim Janzen - 2018 Jeff Gilligan – 2020 During first-round voting, Committee Stefan Schlick – 2018 Wayne Hoffman – 2020 members act independently and do not Wink Gross – 2019 Nick Mrvelj – 2020 consult one another. If a record is Accepted Hendrik Herlyn - 2019 at this stage by all nine Committee members, it is added to the state records. If, however, Alternates Secretary there is at least one “Not Accepted” vote, Shawneen Finnegan Treesa Hertzel the record is opened up to discussion. After Owen Schmidt discussion, the Committee votes again. Tim Shelmerdine If, in second-round voting, a record Jay Withgott receives no more than one Not Accepted votes, it is accepted and added to the state he Oregon Bird Records Committee, or OBRC, recently records. If it receives two or more Not celebrated its 40th birthday. Founded in 1978, the Accepted votes, it is then held until the next Tcommittee stays true to its original aim of collecting, Annual Meeting for more review and a final reviewing, and maintaining records on rare birds found in decision. Oregon, in an ever-changing landscape. This process means that some records New Species for Oregon: Eurasian Skylark can be completed within two months of One new species was added to the Oregon state list this year: submission, but others may take several Eurasian Skylark. This brings the total species list to 537. Oregon’s months. first Eurasian Skylark was seen and photographed in Lincoln County at Newport’s south jetty, November 16, 2017, by Russ Namitz and soon thereafter identified by Adrian Hinkle. The subspecies of this bird remains unidentified, as documentation building, the Committee deliberated for 5 hours. Following are after the discovery date consisted primarily of fuzzy flight shots some of the highlights from the meeting. and a sound recording. It didn’t help that the bird only stuck around OBRC Records into eBird for one additional day and was rather skittish. One explanation as Committee members agreed that historical records should be to the bird’s provenance is that it originated from somewhere in logged into eBird, in order to improve the accuracy and scope of eastern Asia before making the heroic journey to Oregon. Another Oregon records available in the eBird database. For those of you possible explanation is that it was a stray from Vancouver Island, who use eBird, be on the lookout for many great Oregon historical British Columbia, where there exists an established population of records appearing soon. Eurasian Skylarks. Mystery “Hegrets” Two mystery birds, nicknamed “hegrets” (heron/egret), discovered at the Narrows, Malheur NWR, Harney Co., had everyone guessing. Hundreds of photos and videos were taken, and many experts were consulted. In the end, the general consensus was that these birds were hybrids, possibly even nest mates. Two possible hybrid combinations include Little Blue Heron X Snowy Egret and Cattle Egret X Snowy Egret (records 200-17-15 and 200-17-16, both submitted as Little Blue Heron and Not Accepted as such). It is not often that one, let alone two birds, can be so well documented and studied, and yet not be definitively identified. This prompted the Committee to open a discussion at the Annual Meeting on how best to review hybrids. It was decided that hybrids will be reviewed if both putative parent species are themselves Review List species, or in the rare exception (as these two birds were), the hybrid is particularly confounding and potentially involves a review species. OBRC Annual Meeting - March 10, 2018 This year’s Annual Meeting was held at Heron Hall, located inside the Audubon Society of Portland. Member participation was high, with only one member and one alternate absent. In Eurasian Skylark. Newport, Lincoln County. 17 November 2017. between the sounds of workers remodeling the exterior of the Photographer: Russ Namitz OBRC Record # 473-17-01 Oregon Birds Volume 44 (1) - 2018 7 Third Round Records Records Per the rules of the Committee, submitted records that are From March 2017 until March 2018, the committee reviewed 56 neither accepted nor declined after two rounds of voting move on records, of which, 46 records were accepted and 10 were not. These to a third round of voting, done in person at the Annual Meeting. records are presented in the next two pages. Following each species As all of the voting on first- and second-round records takes place name is the OBRC file number, which can be read as follows: The online, it is a distinct change of pace to have the debate conducted first three digits are the AOU number for that species; the second in person and in the span of several minutes instead of two two digits are the year in which the bird(s) was observed; and the months. Each of these records was discussed at length before the last two digits represent the consecutive number of records of that Committee voted the old-fashioned way: by raising hands in the species that have been submitted to the OBRC. air. The 2018 third-round records were as follows: CONTRIBUTORS TO 2017 RECORDS

ACCEPTED AA (Audrey Addison) LWa (Lisa Wallace) Red-legged Kittiwake 041-16-12 AdH (Adrian Hinkle) MaB (Marty Bray) Iceland Gull (glaucoides) 043-16-19 AFr (Andy Frank) NeN (Nels Nelson) Iceland Gull (kumlieni) 043-17-20 AG (Anne Goff) NM (Nick Mrvelj) Cook’s Petrel 098.3-17-07 (accepted as “species unresolved”) BR (Bruce Rideout) OCA (OR Coast Aquarium) CCh (Christopher Christie) OD (Olaf Danielson) NOT ACCEPTED CE (Colleen Emery) OS (Owen Schmidt) Hudsonian Godwit 251-17-29 CG (Callie Gesmundo) PaG (Paul Glasser) Chimney Swift 423-17-05 CM (Craig Miller) PaO (Pam Otley) Phainopepla 620-17-12 CoS (Cody Smith) PL (Paul Lehman) CW (Charlie Wright) PLo (Peter Low) Revisiting Prior Records DE (Deanna Emig) RB (Range Bayer) It was brought to the Committee’s attention that, with new DHa (Dave Haupt) RBu (Robert Burley) information on bird movements available through sources such as DI (Dave Irons) RRo (Roger Robb) eBird, several state records committees, including Washington’s, DiB (Diana Byrne) RuN (Russ Namitz) have been re-reviewing many “sight only” historical records. DV (Dennis Vroman) SF (Shawneen Finnegan) The Committee discussed the logic, need, and protocol behind DvH (David Hewitt) SS (Stefan Schlick) revisiting and re-voting on existing records. Most members were in DVP (David Vander Pluym) ST (Sharon Toochin) agreement that some “sight only” records, especially ones dealing EHa (Evan Hayduk) TBe (Thomas Benson) with first state records and/or those that have yet to be properly HH (Hendrik Herlyn) TBr (Trent Bray) documented in the state of Oregon, were candidates for review. ID (Isaac Denzer) TR (Tim Rodenkirk) The Committee determined that there was time to revisit only two JB (Jason Brown) VB (Vickie Buck) historical records during the meeting, both of which dealt with JVM (Julie VanMoorhem) WG (Wink Gross) the same species, Painted Redstart, but that other records should JW (John Woodhouse) WH (Wayne Hoffman) be re-reviewed at a later date. Records 688-90-02 and 688-91-03 KFr (Kai Frueh) WW (Will Wright) were re-voted on, with the former record receiving a vote of NOT LeeR (Lee Remmers) ACCEPTED, and the latter remaining ACCEPTED. Least Bittern and Upland Sandpiper The Review List for OBRC was increased this year, but not for the expected reason. The Committee is now requesting that records of Least Bittern and Upland Sandpiper, both species that have had a sharp decline in the number of documented field reports over the past several years, be submitted to the OBRC. Least Bitterns may still be lurking in hard-to-access traditional haunts, but Upland Sandpipers seem to be all but extirpated in the state.

Prothonotary Warbler. Multnomah County. September 7, 2017. Photographer: Owen Schmidt OBRC Record #637-17-08

One-legged Laughing Gull. South Beach. Lincoln County. April 13, 2017. Photographer: Owen Schmidt OBRC Record #058-17-10 Oregon Birds Volume 44 (1) - 2018 8 Records March 2017 through March 2018

ACCP E TED RECORDS Iceland Gull 043-17-20 So. Jetty Rd., Yaquina Bay, Newport, Lincoln Co, 11 Jan 2017. “Bewick’s” Swan 180.1-17-06 Accepted as kumlieni. Details and photos WH. Halsey, Linn Co., 1 bird on 5 Jan 2017. Photos and details DE. Lesser Black-backed Gull 050-16-08 Baikal Teal 139.1-16-04 Geiger Rd., Tillamook, Tillamook Co., 1 bird 26 Nov 2016. Sauvie Island, Multnomah Co., 1 shot male on 31 Dec 2017. Report and photos WG. Details and photos LeeR and CoS. Short-tailed Albatross 082-17-17 King Eider 162-16-15 42 km off so. Curry Co., 17 May 2017. Photo BR, details PL. Coos Bay, Coos Co., 1 male 18 Dec 2016 through 1 Mar 2017. Photos PaO, OS, RuN, KFr. Short-tailed Albatross 082-17-18 33 mi. west of Douglas Co., seen and photographed from Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-23 cruise ship 1 Dec 2017. Report and photos DVP and TBe. Driftwood Beach, Seal Rock, Lincoln Co., up to 4 birds, 5-9 May 2017. Details and photos HH. Short-tailed Albatross 082-17-19 15 mi. west of , Curry Co., seen and photographed Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-24 from cruise ship 1 Dec 2017. Report and photos DVP. Near Yachats and Sandpiper Village, Lincoln Co., 5-7 May 2017. Details and photos WH. Short-tailed Albatross 082-17-20 37 mi west of Yachats, Lane Co., seen from cruise ship 1 Dec Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-25 2017 (DVP). Sandpiper Village and Driftwood Beach, Lincoln Co., 6 May 2017. Details and photos DiB. Hawaiian Petrel 098.5-14-11 14 km wsw of so. Curry Co. 7 July 2014 (PL). Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-26 Near Yachats, Lincoln Co., 7 May 2017. Details and photos DI. Hawaiian Petrel 098.5-14-12 145 km w of so. Curry Co. 7 July 2014 (PL). Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-27 So. jetty Columbia River, Clatsop Co., 11 May 2017. Details Hawaiian Petrel 098.5-14-13 and photo DI. 167 km w of Cape Blanco, Curry Co., 7 July 2014 (PL).

Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-28 Hawaiian Petrel 098.5-14-14 Lost Creek State Park, Lincoln Co., 8 May 2017. Details and 85 km offshore just so. of Yachats, Lincoln Co. 16 July 2014 (PL). photos NeN. Hawaiian Petrel 098.5-14-15 Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-29 62 km w of Cape Arago, Coos Co., 16 July 2014. Details (PL). Sunset Beach, Clatsop Co., 3 June 2017. Details and photos OS. Cook’s Petrel 098.3-17-07 Bar-tailed Godwit 250-17-30 Northern Clatsop Co., just south of Washington, bird seen Sandpiper Village, Waldport, Lincoln Co., 7 May 2017. Details and photographed from cruise ship, April 2017. Photos blurry; and photos TBr. accepted as “species unresolved.” (ST, PL)

Hudsonian Godwit 251-17-28 Cook’s Petrel 098.3-17-08 Wickiup River Campground, , Deschutes 61 km west of Siltcoos River mouth on cruise ship 1 Dec 2017. Co., 12 Aug 2017. Details CM and PLo; photos CM. Report and photos TBe.

Red-legged Kittiwake 041-16-12 Black-vented Shearwater 093-15-10 Nye South Beach near Newport, Lincoln Co., 10 Dec 2016. Bandon, Coos Co., 8 Oct 2015. Eight birds. (TR, RuN) Found dead on beach by COASST volunteers JB, CE, and ID verified by CW. Brown Booby 115-17-15 Depoe Bay, Lincoln Co., 1 bird 4 Feb 2017 rescued from a Little Gull 060.1-17-16 residence by Aquarium (RB). Photos OCA. Sauvie Island, Columbia Co., 2 Sept 2017. Report NM; photos Phillip Kline and Sarah Swanson. Glossy Ibis 186-17-09 So. side of Diamond Lane, east of Hwy 2015, Harney Co., 31 Laughing Gull 058-17-10 May 2017. Details, photo and video DiB. , Lincoln Co., 1 adult 13 April through 3 May 2017. Details and photos HH, WH, TBr, OS, RRo, VB. Eastern Phoebe 456-17-26 Mingus Park, Coos Bay, Coos Co., 13-15 May 2017. Details TR. Iceland Gull 043-16-19 SW Fern Hill Rd., Washington Co., 18 Nov 2016. Accepted as Plumbeous Vireo 629.1-17-12 glaucoides. Details and photos SS. Page Springs Campground, Harney Co., 3 Aug and 5 Aug 2017. Details and photos CG. Oregon Birds Volume 44 (1) - 2018 9 Eurasian Skylark 473-17-01 RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED So. jetty Newport, Lincoln Co., 1 bird 17 Nov 2017. Reports and photos RuN, ID, AdH, WH, MaB. First Oregon state record. American Black Duck 133-02-05 Baskett Slough NWR, Polk Co., 1 bird observed 13-14 July Brambling 514.1-16-14 2002. 15-year-old record did not rule out other species or Florence, Lane Co., 1 bird 18 Dec 2016 through 29 March 2017. possible hybrids. Photos LWa, NeN, ID, OD. Little Blue Heron 200-17-15 Lawrence’s Goldfinch 531-17-16 Malheur NWR, The Narrows, Harney Co., Aug-Sept 2017. Private residence, Jacksonville, Jackson Co., 1 male 9 April Many photos and videos of two puzzling birds (see record 2017. Report AG, photos AG and CoS. 200-17-16); unable to rule out hybrid, possibly Snowy Egret X Little Blue Heron, or Cattle Egret parentage. Lawrence’s Goldfinch 531-17-17 Private residence in Sherwood, Washington Co., 3-11 June Little Blue Heron 200-17-16 2017. Details PaG, SF, and TBr. Photos PaG. Malheur NWR, The Narrows, Harney Co., Aug-Sept 2017. Many photos and videos of two puzzling birds (see record LeConte’s Sparrow 548-17-04 200-17-16); unable to rule out hybrid, possibly Snowy Egret X , Lane Co., 20 May 2017, 1 bird. Little Blue Heron, or Cattle Egret parentage. Details RRo. Hudsonian Godwit 251-02-29 Orchard Oriole 506-17-14 Bird was observed 15 years ago, June 2002. Observers Malheur Hdq., Harney Co., 28 June 2017. Details and photos experienced, but details not recalled. WW. Chimney Swift 423-15-04 Common Grackle 511-17-42 Craig Lake, Linn Co., 24 July 2015. Insufficient description Baker City, Baker Co., 16 May 2017, 1 bird at feeder. Details and does not rule out Vaux’s Swift. North Coast photos CCh. Clatsop & Tillamook Chimney Swift 423-17-05 Wink Gross Prothonotary Warbler 637-17-08 Corvallis, Benton Co., 6 August 2017. Seen briefly and without [email protected] Private residence in Portland, Multnomah Co., 2 Sept through optics. Could not rule out Vaux’s Swift. 7 Sept 2017. Details RBu; photos RBu, OS, and NeN. Phainopepla 620-17-12 Virginia’s Warbler 644-17-20 E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Benton Co., 9 April 2017. Bird seen Private residence in Portland, Multnomah Co., first reported briefly and view obstructed. 11 Nov 2017 (CaC), seen through Jan 2018. Reports and photos AA, DI, OS, NeN, NM, AFr, JW, AdH, ID. Video ID. Blackburnian Warbler 662-17-17 Tualatin River, West Linn, Clackamas Co., 17 May 2017. Kentucky Warbler 677-17-05 Insufficient documentation; does not rule out other warbler West of Grants Pass, so. side Hwy 199, Josephine Co., 25 Sept species. 2017, 1 bird (DV). Mourning Warbler 679-16-09 Hooded Warbler 684-17-21 Skinner’s Butte, Lane Co., 1 bird on 29 April 2016. Insufficient Floras Lake, Curry Co., 14 June 2017. Details and video/audio description lacked key details and did not rule out other TR; bird does not show in video but can be heard similar species. singing. Canyon Towhee 588-17-01 Blackburnian Warbler 662-15-16 , Grant Co., 1 Wood River wetland, Klamath Co., bird on 6 June 2017. Description brief 22 Nov 2015 (DHa, DvH, JVM). and lacking in sufficient details for an out-of-range potential first Blue Grosbeak 597-17-14 state record. Fields Oasis, Fields, Harney Co., 1 adult male May 31, 2017. (TBr).

Dickcissel 604-17-22 Waldport, private residence, Lincoln Co., 1 bird 19 Oct 2017. Report and photos EHa.

Brambling. Florence. December 18, 2016. Photographer: Lisa Wallace OBRC Record #514.1-16-14

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